Tuesday Tech Tidbits and a Giveaway

 

 

Yes folks! This is my 2 yr. old using an iPad with his friends! He's actually quite good at getting in and out of the apps and using them correctly.  It amazes me how he can find the exact folder to know what game he wants to play or what story he wants to hear.  He's not alone! All of the kids in his class use the iPad.  It's a part of their curriculum...even in the toddler room!

 

Our students are coming to us each year with this background.  Are you ready for them?  Do you have the know-all to get them motivated and engaged in learning with all this new technology? 

 

I know for the past several years my summers have been filled with technology workshops and training.  I love technology! I really love using it in my classroom!  My students are constantly using iPads, iPods, and computers for reading and math. 

So today I thought I'd share with you a really fun and AWESOME app I found called, Storybook Maker.  Have you heard of it? Do you use it already in your classroom?  If not, don't take my word for it...click the picture to read more.

source: iTunes Preview
 

This will take reading and writing and even math to the next level in your classroom!  Imagine your students actually wanting to write!  This iPad app gives them the creative freedom to illustrate and compose all types of stories.  Letting your students compose their informative and explanatory writings with this app would be so much more appealing to them.  Students are also able to maneuver pictures to create stories of all kinds.  The possibilities are endless!

 

 source: iTunes Preview

 

The app itself is easy to follow and understand.  Stories can be animated and include sound! How cool is that? 

 

 source: iTunes Preview

 

The stories can be saved as .pdf files; however, they will lose their animation and sound.  But that's ok! Stories can also be sent to other Storybook Maker app users to read and enjoy.  And even better, stories can be published for the world to see by submitting them to the app maker's library! You can have a whole classroom of published authors this year!

 

 source: iTunes Preview

 

 source: iTunes Preview

 

source: iTunes Preview

  My plans this year are to use this app more with math.  First grade math is all about word problems! How fun would this be to use when solving ALL of those types of word problems or make a class book of math problems? Like I said, the possibilities are endless.  I'm excited, and I'd love for you to be, too!   So...I'd like to give this app to one of my awesome followers!  It's regularly $3.99...a little pricey for some, but so well worth it when you think of how much you could use it in any classroom.   And, as promised from my last giveaway...here is the Rafflecopter.  Those of you new to this, don't let it keep you from entering.  Just follow the links and instructions and enter to win this fabulous app!   Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway
    Congratulations Jeanbeth!    You're the lucky winner of the Storybook Maker app!  Check your e-mail for your prize!  Thanks to everyone who entered!         

"Scat Cat!" - A New Short 'a' Reading Game - On Sale Today 15% off!

We are all looking for fun and creative ways to motivate our students to read.  I created a game today called, "Scat Cat!"  I plan to use it at the beginning of the year to get my students reading short 'a' words.  It's a great small group activity and center filler.   

 

  Included are 48 word cards: CVC and CCVC words, 14 'Scat Cat' cards, a game board, game tokens, and a spinner.  The spinner will have to be assembled, but after printing and laminating, this game is ready to go!  

 

    Students also keep score to determine the winner.  Points are awarded in increments of 5's and 10's when the student reads the word correctly. Full directions are included as well.  

    I have 'Scat Cat' on sale today for 15% off in my TpT store.  Come grab your copy today!              

Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies

  I'm linking up once again with Classroom Freebies to offer you one of my Back-to-School Roll & Cover activity packs.    This pack is great for the K-2 classroom.  They are great for students who finish early, for center activities, or for small groups.    Skills included are: number recognition, color recognition, addition to 12, and short vowels.  Game pieces are included.  Print, laminate, add dice, and you're all set!   There are 5 game boards with 2 sheets of game pieces.  

 This colored pencil roll & cover game combines color recognition with addition to 12.

 The apples roll & cover is game for addition to 12.

 The scissors roll & cover is a game for short vowel recognition.

 

This happy pencil roll & cover game is great for number recognition to 6.

This colored pencil roll & cover game is fun for color recognition.     Thanks for stopping by! I hope your students enjoy these fun activities! Just click the picture below to get your FREE pack!  

Comments about my products are always welcome!

 

 

Sunday Smorgasbord!

 

 

I'm linking up with Michelle from Fabulous in First today to share some of my randomness from the past week! 

 

First, there was the Chicago trip with 11 of my wonderful colleagues!  We learned a lot and had a bunch of fun walking...and walking...and walking all around the city! I think one night we added it up and ended up walking about 20 blocks! 

 

 

 

Oh and then I won something at the PK-1 Educators' Academy Conference!  Woohoo! Go me! It was a Common Core planning pack from Teach Peach.  It had a really cute button in it, too :)

 

 

Then there was a trip to the optometrist's office for my oldest son, Will.  We finally agreed these glasses were a good fit for him!  Who knew a 14 yr. old, soon-to-be freshmen in high school could be so picky?!? Gotta love him!

 

 

The dreaded trip to Wal-Mart after being out of town. Refer to my previous picture...that kid can eat!  I don't know where he puts it all!  Hence, the overflowing basket of food, etc.  I took this picture because the hubs and I play a fun little game called, "Ouch, This Is Gonna Hurt".  Yea, he was WAYYY off! Comment below if you're feeling lucky and want to guess ;) 

 

 

Aww...yesterday was fun! My teaching buddy's little girl had her 2nd birthday party.  My son, Owen, had a ball playing with all her stuff! 

 

 

It was a princess/pirate party, and well, this is what happens when you go to one of these parties...you turn into the cutest stinkin' pirate EVVAA!

 

 

And last but surely not least...mine and the hub's project for today.  Yes, I took this picture at Home Depot last night...just in case...well, you know, just in case things don't actually go as planned and there are tons of pieces left over or someone gets electrocuted or something :) 

 

 

One last thought...

 

100 Fans on Facebook and Giveaway Winners!

Well, we finally did it!  We reached 100 fans on Facebook!  Way to go! I want to thank everyone for following me on Facebook, TpT, and my blog!  Keep sharing with others and let's make the next giveaway for 100 blog followers very soon!

 

 

 As promised, after reaching 100 fans on Facebook, I randomly chose 2 winners who left comments telling me they followed me, to receive any item of their choosing from my TpT store! 

 

Here's how it worked.  I numbered everyone's post like so...

 

 

Then I ran the Random Number Generator to choose 2 winners! Yes, this was a lot of work, and thanks to my friend Stephanie at Polka Dot Palace who sent me a link for a Rafflecopter tutorial, we'll ALL be using that for the next giveaway :)

 

Anyway...

 

Ok so I know you're dying to see who won right?

 

Ok...drum roll please....

 

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

 

Nikki and Robin are the winners of my 100 Facebook Fans Giveaway! Congratulations!  You'll both need to leave a comment on this blog post with your email addresses and the item you'd like to have from my store!  I'll send it right to you!

 

You can shop by clicking here!

Friday Facebook Fan Freebie!

Calling all Facebook Fans (and those who want to be!)

 

Come grab a freebie from my Facebook page.  Click 'like' on my page and its yours! 

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Back from Chicago and a Facebook Fan Giveaway!

Ahhh Chicago!  What a busy city!  I've never seen so many people in one place in my whole life!  My colleagues and I had such a good time taking in the sites, sounds, and food on our trip for the Pk-1 Educators' Academy Conference!

 I was on the 96th floor of The John Hancock Building...in the women's bathroom! Yes, this view was from the bathroom (ha!)

That sure is a long way down! Just amazing...

 

They say chocolate is a necessity for teachers.  This trip was no different.  The Hershey's store was fun and smelled ah-mazing!

 

 

The Rainforest Café was a fun (but hot) place to eat! This fish tank was so pretty :)

 

There was never a dull moment with these fun friends! We were always stopping to strike a pose.

 

 

We found a Mexican restaurant for lunch, too! Yummo!

 

Our waiter caught us "cheesing it up" at the Cheesecake Factory! What an awesome bunch of educators.  I'm proud to be able to call them friends! Each of these ladies inspires me to be my best. I love these girls!!

 

 

But for the important stuff...we didn't just eat the whole time we were there although my jeans say otherwise (ha!) We worked hard digging deep into the Common Core.  I loved the way Kim Adsit and Kathy Griffin helped us "unpack" the standards in a meaningful way so we could all make sense of it all!

 

We had some amazing keynote speakers who sparked our love of teaching even more. 

 

I was also fortunate enough to work with a wonderful teacher from the Chicago area.  Nancy was such an inspiration and very insightful.  I loved hearing her stories and listening to her expertise during our hard work understanding the Common Core! Our table had some serious collaboration going on. I loved it!

 

 

This was a very fun and enlightening trip.  I hope to go back sometime :)

 

And for the Facebook Fan Giveaway...

 

Don't forget...we only need 3 more 'likes' on the Preslar's Place Facebook page to begin our giveaway!  One lucky person will receive one item of his/her choice from my TpT store.  Tell your friends about it!

 

Christmas in July Sale - July 24-25 and a Facebook Fan Giveaway!

I'm having a Christmas in July Sale this week! Come shop around for an item or two...or three (you get the hint) for your classroom. 

 

 I'm also having a Facebook 100 Fans Giveaway right now.  I'll be giving away one item of your choice from my TpT store if you like my page and leave a comment on my giveaway post from July 18th. 

 

 You have up to three (3) chances to enter:  like me on Facebook, follow my TpT store, and follow my blog. Comment and tell me you've done each and you're entered!

 

We just need 3 more 'likes' to reach 100 fans!